Stake pocket for vehicle bodies



Dec. I c ERNST STAKE POCKET FOR VEHICLE BODIES Filed Aug. 12, 1938 3 awe/who e a I 16 LZemem J Patented Dec- 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 12,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stake pockets for vehicle bodies.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a stake pocket for use on trucks or wagon 5 bodies which will maintain the stake in a rigid and aligned position despite wear incident to sustained periods of use, but which is so fashioned that the stakes may be readily removed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above character which is of simple construction and economical to manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an inner side elevation illustrating a stake pocket constructed in accordance with my invention, parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the stake pocket.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

My improved stake pocket, generally designated 5, preferably is cast integrally to comprise an inner side wall 6, an outer side wall I, and end walls 8, together forming an open rectangular stake receiving sleeve or well. The outer side wall 1 extends at either end beyond the walls 8 to form resultant mounting lugs 9.

The inner side wall 6 is provided with a horizontal recess I extending the full width between the end walls 8 and disposed intermediate the upper and lower edges so as to provide upper and lower full width bearing faces. By reason of the provision of the recess l0, upper and lower contact surfaces II and I2 are provided on the inner wall 6, said surfaces being separated vertically by said recess.

The inner surfaces of the outer side wall I include a downwardly and inwardly inclined upper portion l3, a middle portion l4 also extending downwardly and inwardly, but more nearly vertical than the portion l3, and a bottom portion l extending downwardly and outwardly toward the bottom of said wall, all said portions extending the full width of the space intervening the end walls 8. The middle portion, or face I 4, is disposed directly opposite and is slightly nar- 1938, Serial No. 224,590

rower than the horizontal recess l0, and com prises a contact face for engaging a stake.

The opposed inner surfaces of the end walls 8 are inwardly humped or convex as indicated at ,5 [6.

In Figures 1 and 3, a stake I! having a lower end l8 tapered on three sides, but having the inner face vertically disposed or straight, is shown inserted into the pocket. The middle portion [4 of the outer wall 1 serves as a wedge to force the straight face of the stake against the upper and lower contact surfaces II and I2, the horizontal recess l0 serving to allow some slight bulging of the material of the stake to effectively aid in maintaining the stake in position. The tapered 5 lateral walls of the stake contact the convex surfaces l6 of the pocket to thereby effectively prevent the stake from side movement. The convexity of the surfaces IS, in addition to assisting in maintaining the stake in relatively rigid position, materially assist in maintaining the stake in vertical alignment. The fragment of truck body shown, and to which the pocket is applied, includes the usual floor l9 and longitudinal stringer or side beam 20. The pocket is disposed in a recess out into the edge of the floor intermediate the floor and the longitudinal stringer, and is secured to the stringer by bolts 2|.

As has been previously stated, the middle bearing portion I4 of the outer wall 1 is aligned with and of slightly less depth than the clearance or recess formed in the wall 6, and it will be noted also that the upper bearing surface II is of less depth than the lower surface l2 presented by the wall 6. The lower bearing surface [2 thus comprises a major bearing surface and the surface II a minor bearing surface, and because of the peculiar relation of parts mentioned the inner vertical wall of a stake is pressed tightly against and gripped between the surfaces II and I2. Wear occurring at these points takes place in relation to the bevel of the surface I4 and the stake is always held rigid and quiet under all conditions of use. By reason of the provision of the convex surfaces H3 at the inner surface of the end walls, line contact with the stake ends is provided for, and the stake ends will readily adapt themselves to these and the remaining bearing surfaces so as to facilitate self-pocketing of the stake ends.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a stake pocket for vehicle bodies which is simple in construction, and which will maintain the stake in a relatively rigid position and in proper vertical alignment regardless of wear incident to sustained periods of use.

In Figure 5 of the drawing, I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the attaching ears or lugs 9a project from an end wall instead of a side wall as shown in Figure 4.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A stake pocket comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls having their inner faces opposed in spaced relation to form therebetween an open rectangular stake-receiving Well, one of the opposed side wall faces being vertically disposed and the other being downwardly and inwardly inclined, and said end wall faces being convexly shaped.

2. A stake pocket comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls having their inner faces opposed in spaced relation to form therebetween an open rectangular stake-receiving well, said side walls bearing angular relation one to the other, and one of the opposed side wall faces being provided with a horizontal recess traversing it intermediately to provide vertically spaced upper and lower stake-engaging surfaces, and the other side wall face including a stake face engaging surface of a depth less than the depth of and aligned in opposition to said recess.

3. A stake pocket comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls having their inner faces opposed in spaced relation to form therebetween an open rectangular stake-receiving well, said side walls bearing angular relation one to the other, and one of the opposed side wall faces being vertically disposed and provided with a horizontal recess traversing it intermediately to provide vertically spaced upper and lower stake-engaging surfaces, and the other side wall face including a stake face engaging surface of a depth less than the depth of and aligned in opposition to said recess, said end wall faces being convexly shaped.

4. A stake pocket comprising a pair of side Walls and a pair of end walls having their inner faces opposed in spaced relation to form therebetween an open rectangular stake-receiving well, the opposed side wall faces bearing angular relation. for engaging a stake having a taperfaced end, and said end wall faces being conveXly shaped.

5. A stake pocket comprising a pair of side Walls and a pair of end walls having their inner faces opposed in spaced relation to form therebetween an open rectangular stake-receiving well, one of the opposed side wall faces being vertically disposed and the other being down-.

Wardly and inwardly inclined, said end wall faces being convexly shaped, and one said side wall being extended at both ends to provide pocket attaching ears.

6. A stake pocket comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls having their inner faces opposed in spaced relation to form therebetween an open rectangular stake-receiving well, said side walls bearing angular relation one to the other, and one of the opposed side Wall faces being vertically disposed and provided with a horizontal recess traversing it intermediately to provide a lower deep major stake bearing surface and an upper minor or less deep stake bearing surface spaced vertically from the major surface, the other side wall face including a stake face engaging surface of a depth less than the depth of and aligned in opposition to said recess, said end wall faces being convexly shaped, and one said wall being extended at both ends to provide pocket attaching ears.

CLEMENS J. ERNST. 

